Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Former Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and former chairman WAPDA, Shakeel Durrani has said during last six decades, there remained lack of focus on construction of large water reservoirs but incumbent government is concentrating on the issues which was direly needed for survival of the country.
He said that Kala Bagh Dam is future of the country but disagreement on it seems to be beyond understanding and if Punjab had not sacrificed 1991 water agreement could not have been signed. Kala Bagh Dam will help to lessen energy and economic crises besides lowering the threats of floods, he added.
Talking to media the other day, Shakeel Durrani was of the view that every next politician in Pakistan considers himself a patriot and terms former as traitor which was part of our history. He said that if one agrees to repair his discrepancies, the situation could be improved.
He said that there were only eight percent tax payers in the country which was a major misfortune and a big hurdle in development of country and raising the living standard of the countrymen.
The former chief secretary said that bureaucracy was considered as an ‘evil’ but there exist such bureaucrats who don’t come under any pressure and use their all abilities for welfare of the country and its people.
Expressing his dissatisfaction over the existing judicial system, he called for amendments in judicial system of the country to regain public confidence and endowing people with instant justice.
Shakeel Durrani said that population growth rate in Pakistan was inapt and if Prime Minister and President take measures to control the population, many issues can be resolved.
He said that exemplary development was made on Diamer Bhasha, Mohmand and other dams during Musharraf era and development work on Mangla Raising Project, Chashma Power Plant, Allai Khwar Hydro Power Project, Doubair Khwar dam was started during him tenure.
He rejected the availability of funds as hurdle in initiation of construction of dams and said that if governments give priority of such projects, they could be initiated and completed.
The former chairman WAPDA there exists a formula of water distribution between the provinces but the provinces were not playing the role what they had to play. If WAPDA was given the authority of water distribution, the issue can be resolved without any dispute, he added.
Shakeel Durrani expressed serious concerns over the prevailing situation of Pakistan Railway and urged to close the small stations to make railway profitable.
He said that only freight trains and few passenger trains were going in profit while at least 100 other trains had to be closed.
